Middletown police honor 26 for investigations, saving lives

MIDDLETOWN — Middletown police honored 23 of their own Friday afternoon, for achievements over the past year ranging from saving the lives of the victim of a dog attack, a shooting victim, and a two-month-premature baby wrapped up and hidden away in a plastic bag.

MIDDLETOWN — Middletown police honored 23 of their own Friday afternoon, for achievements over the past year ranging from saving the lives of the victim of a dog attack, a shooting victim, and a two-month-premature baby wrapped up and hidden away in a plastic bag.

Ten of the officers and one civilian, Department of Public Works employee Kenny Ferara, received commendations for saving lives.

On July 24, Ferara and fellow DPW employee Eugene Clemmer used a board and a stick to try to drive off a pit bull that was mauling its owner, Stephanie Jones, on Waverly Place.

Sgt. Jeffry Thoelen responded, told them to leave the backyard, and drew his pistol on the dog. As the dog, named Tyson, came at him, Thoelen tried for a clear shot but the victim was also in the line of fire.

When the dog again attacked Jones, Thoelen shot once, hitting it in the spine. The dog let go and Thoelen shot it twice more.

Thoelen called for medical help and provided first aid to the severely injured Jones. She was flown to Westchester Medical Center, with 52 puncture wounds, and needed reconstructive surgery.

On the night of March 2, a pedestrian flagged down Middletown Police Sgt. David Frank, and told him that a woman at 120 Wickham Ave. had just had a baby and was trying to leave.

The woman at first denied having a baby, but then admitted she had given birth a few hours earlier.

Lt. John Ewanciw said she kept lying about the baby's whereabouts, but officers found the baby in the apartment, two months premature, barely breathing, wrapped in a shirt and hidden in a plastic bag.

The officers didn't find the baby initially, Ewanciw said, but instinct told them something was wrong and they kept at it, finding the infant and saving its life.

Officers, detectives and dispatchers were honored for their response to a life-threatening shooting, and the investigation of the Gino's Motel case, in which Heriberto "Eddie" Ayala was stabbed and beaten to death while trying to defend himself and his family from a robbery.

That investigation resulted in the conviction of the five people involved.